Spellcasters (59 page)

She grabbed the tray, then lifted the bottle of single-malt Scotch. “What are you people trying to do to me? I said no booze tonight. I have an engagement. No booze, no caffeine. Like I’m not bouncing off the walls enough as it is.” She eyed the bottle longingly, then shut her eyes and thrust it out. “Take it, please.”

The bottle vanished behind the door.

“And bring more Gatorade. The blue stuff. None of that orange shit.” She closed the door, grabbed a towel, and mopped her face. “Okay, so where were we?”

“I—”

“Oh, right. So I was thinking, what if that’s not her? I was expecting the witch. Well, maybe not expecting, but hoping, you know? Lucas called and told me he was sending someone—a female someone—and I thought, oh, my God, maybe it’s the witch.”

“The—?”

“Have you heard that story?” Jaime continued, her voice muffled as she tugged her dress off over her head. “About Lucas and the witch? Personally, I can’t see it.”

“You mean, Lucas dating a witch? Well—”

“No, Lucas dating. Period.” Jaime shrugged off her bra. “No offense to the guy, really. He’s great. But he’s one of those people you just can’t imagine having a social life. Like your teachers. You see them outside the classroom and it freaks you out.”

Now stripped to her panties, Jaime proceeded to slather cold cream on her face, still talking.

“I heard she’s a computer geek. Probably some skinny kid with big
glasses and an overbite, scared of her own shadow. Typical witch. I can see Lucas hooking up with a girl like—”

“I’m the witch,” I said.

Jaime stopped cleaning her face and looked at me. “Wha—?”

“The witch. Lucas’s girlfriend. That’d be me.”

She winced. “Oh, shit.”

The door cracked open and J.D.’s voice floated through. “Got a fire to put out, Jaime. Needs your special touch.”

“Just hold on, okay?” she said to me, throwing on a robe. “I’ll be right back.”

“Hey, it’s me,” I said, shifting the cell phone to my other ear. “Is your dad there?”

“Paige, nice to hear from you,” Adam said. “I’m fine. Midterms went well. Thanks for asking.”

“Sorry,” I said. “But I’m kind of in a hur—”

A drill screeched outside the dressing room.

“Holy shit, what are you killing?”

“I think they’re dismantling the stage,” I said. “Is Robert—”

“He’s out with Mom. What stage? Where are you?”

“Miami. And, before you ask, I’m here looking for a necromancer. I’ve found one but she’s not quite … right, so I was hoping Robert could put me in touch with another one in the area.”

“What do you want a necromancer for?” A pause, then his voice dropped. “You’re not thinking of … you know … with your mom? You don’t want to go there, Paige. I know you’re still—”

“Give me credit. I’m not trying to call up my mother. It’s for a case.”

“You’re working a case and you didn’t call me?”

“I just did.”

Another earsplitting mechanical yowl, followed by shouts and catcalls.

“Sounds like a party,” Adam said. “You said something about a stage? Where are you? A strip club?”

“Pretty close, actually. I just got to see a strip act. Wrong gender, though. Now, tell—”

“Oho, you aren’t tossing out that teaser without an explanation. What the hell are you doing looking for a necromancer in a strip club?”

“It’s not a strip club. It’s a theater. Ever heard of Jaime Vegas?”

“The—” He whooped a laugh. “Are you serious? Jaime Vegas is a necromancer? I can’t believe people watch that shit. So she’s for real?”

“In a … manner of speaking.”

“Oh, God, how bad is she?”

“Let’s just say showbiz suits her well.”

“Hey, now, don’t go playing nice. This isn’t Lucas you’re talking to. What’s she like?”

“Flakier than puff pastry.”

Another whooped laugh. “Oh, man, I wish I was there. So about this case … you changed your mind about working with Lucas?”

“I never said I wouldn’t work—”

“Sure you did. When I was up in Portland last month. Lucas was talking about that Igneus case, and I said maybe you could help, and you said—”

“This is just temporary. He’s busy, so I’m filling in.”

Jaime slid into the room. I lifted a finger. She nodded, grabbed a Gatorade, and perched on the edge of the vanity counter.

Adam continued, “If he’s busy, that means you need a partner. I could—”

“I’m fine. You have school.”

“Not for the next four days, I don’t,” Adam said. “No classes until Tuesday. I’ll just hop—”

“Stay. If I need you, I’ll call. In the meantime, can you ask Robert about nec”—I glanced at Jaime—“that list? It’s kind of urgent.”

“I will if you promise to call back with
all
the details.”

“I’ll call you first thing tomorrow. As soon as you wake up. Say, noon?”

“Very funny. I’m up by ten. Call me back tonight. It’s only seven o’clock here, remember.”

I agreed, then hung up and turned to Jaime.

“Sorry about that. I wasn’t sure how long you’d be.” I put my cell into my purse and hefted it to my shoulder. “Look, I’m sure this is a bad time for you, right after a busy show and all. I appreciate you taking the time to see me, and the show was … great. But you don’t need me bugging you with this. Whatever favor you owe Lucas, consider it squared.” I stepped backward toward the door and grasped the handle. “Anyway, it’s been great meeting you, Jaime, and I wish you all the best—”

“I’m sorry about what I said. I stuck my foot in it so far I’m kicking myself in the stomach right now. After a show, I’m so wired, I just—I don’t think.”

“That’s okay. I—”

“I mean, shit, I can’t believe I didn’t figure out who you were the minute Lucas told me your name. I knew your mom. Not personally, but I knew who she was, and then I heard about you and Eve’s daughter last spring, so I really should have put two and two together, but when I do
a show, my brain goes on hold and—” A wry twist of a smile. “And I babble and blather, and make no sense at all, not that you noticed or anything, right?”

“It’s okay. Obviously you’re busy and you don’t need this, so don’t worry about it. I have other necromancers I can contact.”

She began brushing her hair. “Better necromancers.”

“I have no idea whether they’re better. I’ve never worked with you.”

She looked up, as if surprised that I hadn’t paid her a false compliment.

I continued, “I’m just saying this is probably a bad time—”

“You need me to contact a girl in a coma. Simple. It’s ten o’clock and you’re not going to get anyone else to do it tonight. Might as well give me a shot, let me repay Lucas.”

What could I say to that? Spending the next couple of hours with the Diva of the Dead wasn’t exactly my idea of fun, but she seemed calmer now, as the high from her performance wore off. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Or so I kept telling myself as she dropped her robe and started searching for clothing.

F
ollowing the address I gave, the cab stopped in front of a square block of brick squeezed between a restaurant and a small accounting firm. Unlike its neighbors, this storefront had no obvious signage. It took a minute of searching to see the near-microscopic sign in the window: the marsh memorial clinic.

“Jesus,” Jaime said as I rang the after-hours bell. “What is this? A rehab center?”

“A private hospital,” I said.

“Shit. Who do you have to kill to get in here?” She caught my expression. “Ah, not
who
, but how many. A Cabal hospital.”

A blond woman in her forties opened the door. “Ms. Winterbourne. Hello. Mr. Cortez said you’d be by this evening. Come in, please. And I presume this is Jaime Vegas?”

Jaime nodded.

“Has there been any change in Dana’s condition?” I asked.

A brief flutter of emotion rippled the nurse’s composure. “I’m afraid not. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. Mr. Cortez asked that this be a private visit, so if you need me, please buzz. Otherwise, I won’t bother you. She’s in room three.”

I thanked her and followed her directions into a side hall. As we walked, Jaime looked around, taking in everything.

“And just think,” she said. “This is for the employees. They’ve probably got a place in the Swiss Alps for the execs. And the family? God only knows. Can you imagine having this kind of money?”

“Remember where it comes from,” I said, quoting Lucas.

“I try, but you know, sometimes, you see what a Cabal can do and you think, hmmm, maybe tormenting a few souls now and then wouldn’t be such a bad gig. You’re dating the guy who’s supposed to own all this one day. I’m sure you think about that.”

“Not in a good way.”

“More power to you, then. I’d be tempted. Hell, I’ve
been
tempted. Ever met Carlos?”

“Carlos Cortez? No.”

“He’s the youngest. Well, you know, the youngest of the legit—uh, of Delores’s kids. Carlos is the hunk of the litter. Takes after his mother, who’s gorgeous … and as vicious as a rabid dog. Carlos got the vicious genes, too, but seems to have missed out on Benicio’s brains, so he’s not very dangerous. Anyway, I met Carlos at a club a couple years back, and he showed some definite interest. There were a few moments there when I was tempted. I mean, here’s a guy with money and power, wrapped in a damn near perfect gift box. What more could a girl want? Okay, maybe someone who doesn’t have a reputation for nasty bedroom games, but everyone’s got their hang-ups, right? Honest to God, that’s what I thought. I’m standing there, looking at this guy and thinking, hmmm, maybe I could change him.”

“Probably not.”

“No shit, huh? I don’t learn my lessons well, but that’s one I’ve committed to heart. Take it or leave it, ’cause you ain’t gonna change it. But that still didn’t keep me from thinking about Carlos. Power and money—if Calvin Klein could bottle the scent, he’d make a fortune.” She tossed a grin my way. “Just think, we could’ve been sisters-in-law. We’d certainly have livened up family reunions.”

I pushed open a door marked with a small 3. “They’re probably lively enough as it is.”

Jaime laughed. “I bet. Can you imagine—”

She stopped as we stepped into the room. It was twice the size of my apartment bedroom. A leather couch and two matching recliners were grouped around a coffee table just inside the door. Past that was a king-size bed. A girl with long blond hair lay in the middle of it, a sunflower-patterned quilt pulled up across her chest. Her eyes were closed. Bandages encircled her neck. To one side, machines bleeped discreetly, as if trying not to wake her.

My breath hitched. How could anyone—? How could her mother—? Goddamn it! Why, why, why? I closed my eyes, swallowed, walked to Dana’s bedside, and took her hand.

“Holy shit,” Jaime whispered. “She’s a kid.”

“Fif—” My throat dried up. I tried again. “She’s fifteen. But she looks small for her age.”

“Fifteen? Jesus Christ. When Lucas said ‘girl,’ I thought, you know, he meant a woman. I should have known better. He says girl, he means girl.”

“Is that a problem?”

Jaime inhaled, gaze glued to Dana. “Tougher, yes. Not to communicate. I mean”—she tapped a manicured nail against her forehead—“up here. What do the doctors say?”

“She’s stable. As to whether she’ll regain consciousness, they don’t know.”

“Well, we might find that out tonight. If she’s crossed over, I’ll know it.”

Jaime rolled her shoulders, approached the bed, and gripped the side rail. She stared down at Dana, then shook her head, opened her oversize purse, and pulled out what looked like a jumbo makeup bag.

“I’ll call you in when I’m ready,” she said, not looking up.

“I’m an old hand at this,” I said. “Well, not exactly an old hand, but I’ve helped out at a few summonings. Here, pass me the censer and herbs and I’ll set them up while you—”

“No.”

The word came out sharp enough to make me jump. Jaime clutched her tool bag closed, as if I might pry it from her hands.

“I’d rather you waited in the hall,” she said.

“Uh, sure. Okay. Call me then.”

I walked to the door, then glanced back to see her still holding the bag closed, waiting. I pushed open the door and stepped into the hall.

Well, I said necromancers were queer beasts. Jaime might look a far cry from your typical spacey-eyed necro, but you have to wonder about a woman who’ll strip in front of a stranger, yet draws the line at letting the same person watch her perform a summoning ceremony. Not that I minded being relegated to the sidelines. I knew what was in that Gucci makeup bag, and it wasn’t designer lip liner.

To summon the dead you needed artifacts of death. In that kit, there’d be everything from grave dirt to scraps of moldy grave clothes to, well, dead things … or, at least, travel-size pieces of them. The tools-in-trade of a necromancer. Made me really happy to be a witch, casting spells surrounded by sweet-smelling herbs, pretty gemstones, and antique filigreed chalices.

About ten minutes later, Jaime called me in. When I entered, she was sitting beside the bed, holding Dana’s hand. Most necromancers leave their tools out during a summoning, but Jaime’s makeup bag had vanished, along with its contents. Only the censer remained, burning vervain, which necromancers used when contacting either traumatized souls, such as murder victims, or the souls of those who didn’t realize they were spirits.

“It didn’t work?” I asked.

“It worked.” Jaime’s voice had faded to a strained whisper and her face was pale. “She’s here. I haven’t—” Her voice strengthened. “I haven’t made contact yet. I think it’d be easiest on her if I used channeling. Do you know how that works?”

I nodded. “You let Dana speak through you.”

“Right.”

“So I’ll ask her the questions and—”

“No, no,” Jaime said. “Well, yes, you’ll ask the questions, but I’ll relay them to her, and let her speak through me. She doesn’t take over my body. That’s full channeling, and if a necro ever suggests that, find someone else. No necro in her right mind ever gives herself completely over to a spirit.”

“Got it.”

“Now, for the first part, making contact, I’ll do that on my own. It’s easier that way. I’ll establish contact and … explain things.” She swallowed. “I’ll tell her what happened, where she is. She may know, but … with kids … there can be some resistance to the truth.”